Profiled seaming element for industrial textiles

ABSTRACT

A seaming element for an industrial textile, a textile with seaming elements, and a method. The seaming element has first and second end regions, a fold line in an intermediate fold region, and outer and inner surfaces. Each end region comprises slits extending from the outer surface through to the inner surface, defining protrusions which provide a profile to at least one of the surfaces. Apertures aligned along the fold line define a plurality of land areas. When the seaming element is folded along the fold line, the land areas form a plurality of loops defining a channel. When the seaming element is secured at each end region to a first end of the industrial textile, the loops are interdigitatable with corresponding loops on a compatible seaming element at a second end of the industrial textile, to define a single aligned channel to receive a securing means.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to seaming elements for industrial textiles forfiltration, conveyance and similar purposes, and industrial textilesincluding such seaming elements. In particular, the invention relates tosuch seaming elements integrated into industrial textiles, moreparticularly where the seaming element and the textile are each ofprofiled polymeric construction, e.g. formed from a slit and embossedfilm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Industrial textiles intended for continuous process and conveyingapplications, such as filtration, papermaking and the like, arefrequently made in lengths of more than 100 ft. (33 m) and are oftenjoined on the machine for which they are intended. The seam is acritical fabric component, and its properties should ideally be ascontinuous with the fabric as possible. That is to say, the seam shouldnot introduce a discontinuity into the fabric once it is closed and thetextile is rendered endless. The seam should also be easily closable bythe machine operators during installation, and should be of highstrength so that fabric integrity is optimized. Over the years, a greatvariety of seam constructions have been developed which meet theserequirements to varying degrees. In the past, the vast majority ofindustrial textiles used for papermaking and filtration have been eitherwholly or partially woven structures, and the seams for these fabricswere typically prepared as extensions of the textile body. Pin typeseams in particular have been found to offer various advantages in termsof maintaining fabric properties, and minimizing discontinuity, whileproviding a high strength join which is simple to close duringinstallation.

With more recent advances in polymer structures and engineering, it hasnow become feasible to produce wholly nonwoven industrial textiles forfiltration applications. These nonwoven fabrics can be formed from yarnarrays or similar arrangements of discrete fibers or, more recently,from polymer films. For example, it has been proposed in WO 2011/069259(Manninen) to assemble industrial textiles from one or more layers offilm which has been selectively slit and embossed so as to providepermeability and integrity. The film fabric disclosed in the '259application can be joined with either a seaming element such as isdescribed in WO 2010/121360, or a hinge type seam as disclosed byLacroix et al. WO 2011/069258. While both of these seam constructionsmay be suitable for use in a variety of situations, a need still existsfor a seam structure which is of high strength, maintains continuitywith respect to fabric properties and is easily joined on the machinefor which the fabric is intended. Ideally, such a seam constructionshould also be applicable to both woven and nonwoven textiles. Theseaming elements of the present invention address these needs in asimple, elegant manner.

It is known to provide for seaming of fabrics by using punched, notchedor similarly serrated openings between which are located joining loopsor analogous arrangements. For example, FR 929951 (Nivoix) discloses anotched, U-shaped hinge seam component comprised of metal or nylon forattachment to a transmission belt so as to render it endless; and DE4314356 (Melies) discloses a pressed film connection to connect the endsof rotating pressed films used to feed workpieces into presses, aplurality of mutually engaging flaps being created at each of theopposing ends of the belt, to receive a connecting rod to join the ends.

GB 1 266 719 (Wilson) describes a heat-shrinkable closure sleeve,constructed from a notched polymeric material having a row of aperturesalong parallel opposing edges, the apertures of one edge being staggeredin relation to those in the opposing edge. The sheet is folded alongeach row of apertures and then bonded to provide a plurality of loopscapable of receiving a connecting member.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,005,979 (Milnes) discloses a dryer fabric or felt whichis rendered endless by cutting interfitting loops from the opposingfabric ends by first folding the ends back upon themselves, and thencutting out notches to form the loops, the opposing ends being joinedtogether by means of a retaining key, or pintle. U.S. Pat. No. 3,309,790(MacBean) discloses a similar seam construction to that of Milnes exceptthat the key, or pintle, is perforated to maintain porosity(permeability) across the width of the fabric at the seam, and thenotches and projections may be coated with a plastic material to bondthe folded over portions.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,323,226 (Beaumont) discloses a papermaker's dryer fabricformed from a plurality of rectangular perforated polymeric sheets offilm which are joined together by overlapping the sheets andultrasonically welding them. The fabric may be seamed by folding backthe ends of the fabric, stitching them in place, and then formingnotches across the width of the belt. The resulting loops and notchescan be brought together and interleaved, and a rod or pintle insertedthrough the loops to create an endless construction.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,683 (Legge) discloses a nonwoven fabric constructionincluding one or more layers of batt material in which the ends to bejoined may be entirely devoid of MD oriented yarns, the fabric endsbeing folded and subsequently notched to form a series of projectionswhich can be intermeshed to form a seam.

U.S. 2008/0295306 (Despault) discloses a seam for a papermakers fabriccomprised of intermeshing indentations and land areas located at each ofthe opposing ends of the fabric. The land areas are shaped to intermeshwith the indentations at the second opposing end and then joined using apintle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has now been found that seaming elements can be provided as two layercomponents, preferably constructed from a polymeric film, and havingapertures along a fold line between the two layers, and with profilingof the layers. Land areas along the fold line between the apertures canbe configured to provide a set of loops across the fold line, similar tothe known loops of seam areas in woven industrial textiles. When theseaming element is affixed to one seamable end of an industrial textile,the loops on the seaming element can be interdigitated with loops on asecond seaming element affixed to an opposing seamable end of thetextile. The second seaming element can be of any configuration,provided that the loops and intervening spaces, and the total thicknessof the two layers, of the seaming elements are of compatible dimensions,so that different configurations can be selected if appropriate toprovide optimal properties to the eventual seam and seam area.

The seaming elements of the invention are suitable for a large varietyof industrial textiles, particularly textiles constructed of polymericfilm, and more particularly having at least one profiled layer. Theprofiling of the seaming elements can be, but is not necessarily, thesame as the profiling of the body of the textile itself The seamingelements of the invention are especially suitable for use with thetextiles of WO 2011/069259, those textiles being constructed of two ormore layers of a bi-axially oriented polymeric film to which contouringis provided by a combination of an embossing or similar process so as toraise portions of the film above its general plane, and formcorresponding slits to create apertures at the raised portions, the filmlayers being bonded together at selected interior locations to form afully integrated film fabric. The seaming elements of the invention arepreferably formed from polymers which would be suitable for use inindustrial textiles, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and otherpolyesters, polyphenylene sulphide (PPS), polyetheretherketone (PEEK)and the like. Preference is presently given to PET and in particularbi-axially oriented hydrolysis stabilized PET and similar polymer filmssuch as are described by Manninen in CA 2,778,513, or oriented,multi-layer thermoplastic polymer films comprising at least twothermoplastic polymeric layers in which at least one of the layersincludes a radiation absorbing material such as are described byManninen in CA 2,758,622.

The seaming elements of the invention can advantageously be constructedintegrally with those and other textiles where the seaming elements andthe textile body have compatible or identical profiling, and are to beconstructed of the same or similar compatible materials.

The invention therefore seeks to provide a seaming element for anindustrial textile having first and second ends, the seaming elementcomprising a body having a first end region, a second end region and anintermediate fold region, opposing first and second lateral edges, anouter first surface and an inner second surface, wherein

-   (i) each end region comprises a plurality of slits extending from    the outer surface through to the inner surface wherein adjacent    pairs of the slits define land areas therebetween and selected ones    of the land areas comprise protrusions extending from at least one    of the outer surface and the inner surface to form a profile to the    respective surface;-   (ii) the intermediate fold region comprises a fold line extending    between the first and second lateral edges, and a plurality of    apertures mutually aligned along the fold line to define a plurality    of land areas therebetween such that when the body is folded along    the fold line, the land areas form a plurality of loops defining a    channel;-   (iii) the seaming element is constructed and arranged to be secured    at each of the first and second end regions directly to the first    end of the industrial textile; and-   (iv) selected ones of the plurality of loops are alignable and    interdigitatable with corresponding loops on a compatible seaming    element provided to the second end of the industrial textile, to    define a single aligned channel to receive a securing means.

Preferably, the seaming element is constructed of a polymeric film.

Preferably, the slits are constructed and arranged to provide alignedrows of protrusions, wherein the protrusions of each row are offset fromthe protrusions of adjacent rows. However, depending on the intended enduse of the finished fabric to be seamed with the element, theprotrusions can be aligned in a mutually parallel arrangement, whichwould for example facilitate assembly in the case of narrow panels ofthe film.

Preferably, the apertures have a configuration selected fromsubstantially rectangular and substantially elliptical, includingvariations from those configurations; for example, a substantiallyrectangular aperture can be provided with rounded corners, orindentation or concave curvature to the opposing sides to provide ataper to the sides of the aperture in a direction towards the fold line.Other aperture shapes can also be selected, provided that they allow foreffective interdigitation of the loops of the corresponding seamingelement.

Preferably, the seaming element is constructed and arranged to besecured to the industrial textile by a means selected from bonding andmechanical means, in which case preferably at least one of the endregions of the seaming element comprises a bonding strip securable tothe industrial textile. Optionally, the industrial textile comprises aninterior third layer and the seaming element is constructed and arrangedto be secured to the third layer by a means selected from bonding andmechanical means.

Preferably, the securing means is a pintle. Optionally, the seamingelement further comprises a reinforcement means provided to the innersurface at the fold region.

Optionally, protrusions on the inner surface of the first end region areselectively secured to the inner surface of the second end region, andprotrusions on the inner surface of the second end region areselectively secured to the inner surface of the first end region.

The invention further seeks to provide an industrial textile forconveying in an industrial process, having a pair of seamable edges,wherein at least one of the seamable edges comprises a seaming elementaccording to the invention.

Preferably, the industrial textile is constructed of a polymeric film,and more preferably is constructed of material selected from at leastone of polyethylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulphide, multi-layerlaser weld enabled film, and hydrolysis stabilized polymer film.

Preferably, the industrial textile has a textile body comprising atleast one layer having an upper surface and a lower surface; and aplurality of textile body slits extending from the upper surface throughto the lower surface wherein adjacent pairs of the textile body slitsdefine land areas therebetween, and selected ones of the land areascomprise protrusions extending from at least one of the upper surfaceand the lower surface of the layer to form a profile to the respectivesurface. In this case, preferably the textile body slits are constructedand arranged to provide aligned rows of protrusions, wherein theprotrusions of each row are offset from the protrusions of adjacentrows. However, as noted above, the protrusions can alternatively bealigned in a mutually parallel arrangement.

Optionally, the industrial textile including at least one seamingelement of the invention as described above comprises at least twolayers, and

-   (i) the second end region of the seaming element comprises an    extended region extending beyond the first end region of the seaming    element in a direction measured from the fold line;-   (ii) selected ones of protrusions on the inner surface of the first    end region are secured to the inner surface of the second end    region, and selected ones of protrusions on the inner surface of the    second end region are secured to the inner surface of the first end    region; and-   (iii) selected ones of protrusions on the inner surface of the    extended region of the second end region are secured to an inner    surface of a first layer of the textile, and protrusions on the    inner surface of the first layer of the textile are selectively    secured to the inner surface of the extended region of the second    end region.

In an aspect of this embodiment, the at least one seaming element isintegrally constructed with the textile body.

The invention further seeks to provide a method of making a seam for anindustrial textile, the industrial textile having a pair of seamableedges, the method comprising the steps of

-   (a) providing a first seaming element according to the invention to    the first of the pair of seamable edges;-   (b) providing a second seaming element to the second of the pair of    seamable edges, the second seaming element comprising a plurality of    loops constructed and arranged to be alignable and interdigitatable    with the plurality of loops of the first seaming element;-   (c) bringing free edges of the first and second seaming elements    together, interdigitating the plurality of loops of the first    seaming element with the plurality of loops of the second seaming    element to define a channel; and-   (d) providing a securing means to the channel to secure the seam.

Optionally, the industrial textile comprises at least two layers, andthe method further comprises selectively securing protrusions on atleast one surface selected from the inner surface of the first endregion, the inner surface of the second end region and the inner surfaceof at least one layer of the textile to at an opposing one of the atleast one surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, inwhich

FIG. 1 is a top view of a seaming element in an embodiment of theinvention before folding;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of the fold region of a profiledseaming element of the invention before folding;

FIG. 3 is a perspective partial view of the fold region of the profiledseaming element of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a perspective partial view of the fold region of the profiledseaming element of FIG. 3 in a partly folded position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective partial view of a disconnected pair of seamingelements in an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines VI-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a connected pair of seaming elementsin an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a connected pair of seaming elements inan embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the connected pair of seaming elements of FIG.9;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a seaming element attached to a twolayer textile in an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a seaming element attached to athree layer textile in an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a reinforced fold region in anembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 13 is a top view of the fold region in a seam area of a textile inan embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a seaming element 1 in a first embodiment ofthe invention is shown. The seaming element 1 comprises a polymeric filmhaving a first end region 20 with end edge 21, and a second end region30 with end edge 31. Each of end regions 20, 30 is provided with aplurality of slits 40, in a selected pattern. Between the two endregions 20 and 30, fold region 5 is provided with a row of apertures 10,mutually aligned and spaced apart so as to define land areas 15 betweenadjacent apertures. At the side edges of seaming element 1, optionallyan uncut region can be provided, such as edging strip 45, forfacilitating manufacture and optional removal after folding and settingof seaming element 1, as discussed further below.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are respectively an enlarged planar view and an enlargedperspective view of part of seaming element 1 exemplified by the areashown in FIG. 1 at the detail location A. From FIGS. 2 and 3, it can beseen that selected areas of the polymeric film between adjacent slits 40have been pressed, for example by an embossing process, to form aplurality of protrusions 50, separated by land areas 56. As best seen inFIG. 3, each protrusion 50 in this embodiment comprises an upper surface52 and two sides 54. The resulting profiling of seaming element 1 allowsfor fluid flow, for example liquid drainage or air flow, through thespaces 58 provided under the elevated protrusions between the associatedslits 40.

For the seaming elements of the invention, the profiling patterns anddimensions can be selected according to the intended end use of theseaming elements and the associated industrial textiles, and thespecific properties required or desired for the seaming elements. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 13, the seaming element can be provided as anintegral part of a film which has been slit and embossed in a mannersimilar to that described in WO 2011/069259. In the seaming element 1 asshown in FIGS. 1 to 3, each of the slits in each row of slits is offsetby one-half of its length from each of the slits in the adjacent row,which avoids continuity of land areas across the entire width of theseaming element, thereby allowing for imparting to the film some of thecharacteristics of a woven fabric; whereas in the seaming element shownin FIG. 13, the rows of slits are not offset, but are mutually parallel.For the seaming elements of the invention, both the slits and theembossments respectively can be offset, or both can be aligned, or theslits can be offset while the embossments are aligned, or vice versa.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a portion of a seaming element 1 is shown in aperspective partial view, in a partly folded position, in which seamingelement 1 has been folded about fold line 6, bringing end region 20towards end region 30. By selection of appropriate dimensions for foldregion 5 (see FIG. 1), protrusions 50 in end region 20, on folding ofseaming element 1, will face and be accommodated between protrusions 50in end region 30. Optionally, in other embodiments, the profilingpatterns and fold region dimensions can be selected so that at leastsome protrusions 50 can be located so as to contact and be secured toopposing protrusions 50. After folding of seaming element 1, each foldedland area 15 has a looped configuration, and the aligned loopscontribute to a channel for a securing means, as described further belowin relation to FIGS. 7 to 9.

FIG. 5 is a perspective partial view of a pair of seaming elements 1A,1B, showing their relative positions for connection together. Beforeconnection, a pair of seaming elements would generally be secured to theseamable ends of an industrial textile; however, for convenience ofunderstanding, seaming elements 1A and 1B are shown in FIG. 5 in thefolded position and ready for securing to the textile, which is notshown. In this folded position, it can be seen that in the directionnormal to fold lines 6A, 6B, end regions 20A, 20B are each shorter thancorresponding end regions 30A, 30B, so that edge 21A is offset from edge31A, and edge 21B is offset from edge 31B. It can also be seen that theprotrusions 50 on the respective inner surfaces 3A of the folded seamingelement 1A, and the protrusions 50 on the respective inner surfaces 3Bof the folded seaming element 1B, are securably accommodated on opposingland areas, as described above in relation to FIG. 4.

For connection of the pair of seaming elements 1A, 1B, the two seamingelements are brought together, so that the folded land areas 15A ofseaming element 1A are aligned with the apertures 10B of seaming element1B, and the folded land areas 15B of seaming element 1B are aligned withthe apertures 10A of seaming element 1A. Folded land areas 15A areinterdigitated with folded land areas 15B, and the aligned loopedconfigurations together define a channel, through which a securingmeans, such as pintle 60 (see FIG. 8) can be inserted to close the seam.

Referring now to FIG. 6, this is a sectional view taken along the linesVI-VI in FIG. 5. End region 20A is folded over end region 30A, so thatbetween folded land areas 15A and edge 21A of end region 20A,protrusions 50 on end region 20A are accommodated between protrusions 50on end region 30A, whereas in the part of end region 30A extendingbeyond edge 21A and up to edge 31A, protrusions 50 can compatibly beaccommodated by suitable configuration of the textile (not shown) whichwill be attached to edge 21A and extend over end region 30A.

Referring now to FIG. 7, this is a cross-sectional view of the seam areaof an embodiment of the invention, showing a pair of seaming elements71A, 71B. The respective folded land areas 15A and 15B are shown in thealigned position, secured by pintle 60. It can be seen that theconfiguration of the elements in this position provides three differenttypes of location for insertion of one or more reinforcement element,i.e. the larger passages 78A, 78B, smaller passages 79A, 79B, and thepassages adjacent the outer surfaces of the folded land areas 15A, 15B,i.e. passages 77A, 77B. The insertion of yarns such as monofilaments inpassages 77A, 77B, or 78A, 78B can provide increased compressionresistance, or a reduction of air permeability, or increased bendingstiffness of the fabric as a whole; whereas the insertion of similaryarns in passages 79A, 79B can facilitate the joining of the two layersof the fabric. In addition, pintle tails can be reinserted into passages77A, 77B, to further secure the seam as well as increasing compressionresistance.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are respectively a perspective view and a top view showingthe seaming elements 71A, 71B in the position shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a seaming element 1A attached to atwo layer textile in an embodiment of the invention, showing anexemplary method of attachment. First end region 20A is secured at itsedge 21A to upper fabric layer 110, by suitable means such as bondingstrip 120. Similarly, second end region 30A is secured at its edge 31Ato lower fabric layer 112, by suitable means such as bonding strip 122.Strips 120, 122, are preferably constructed of hot melt or laser energyabsorbing material, and can be heated or welded in place as appropriateacross the pairs of abutting edges, i.e. 21A and 110, and 31A and 112,respectively. As a further option, in place of bonding strips 120, 122,a sheet of an oriented, multi-layer thermoplastic polymer film can beused, comprising at least two thermoplastic polymeric layers in which atleast one of the layers includes a radiation absorbing material toprovide a weldable outer surface of the polymer material and at leastone of the layers provides through transmission of infrared laser energysuch as disclosed by Manninen in CA 2,758,622. The film can be providedas a suitably profiled and apertured interior sheath located within theinterior of the end regions 31A, 31B or it can be provided as a strip orstrips similar to bonding strips 120, 122. As a further alternative, theseaming element 1A, 1B may be constructed entirely of such orientedmulti-layer film which includes the laser weldable material. Use of sucha film in the latter manner would obviate the need to insert or providethe strips 120, 122, and would thus simplify installation of theelements 1A, 1B to the textile.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a seaming element 85A, attached toa three layer textile in an embodiment of the invention, showing afurther exemplary method of attachment. In this embodiment, end regions80A, 82A are of equal length, and upper fabric layer 110 is secured toedge 81A of end region 80A, with bonding strip 84; lower fabric layer112 is secured to edge 83A of end region 82A with bonding strip 86.However, each of end regions 80A, 82A is also secured along its innersurface to third layer 124, provided to the textile body between upperlayer 110 and lower layer 112. Layer 124 may be constructed of the samematerial as layers 110, 112 or it may be comprised of a differentmaterial, such as a multi-layer laser weld enabled film as described byManninen in CA 2,758,622; layer 124 may also be formed of monolayer filmincluding a laser weld enabling material. It will be understood thatlayer 124 should be profiled and apertured so as to conform to and bematable with the profiling of layers 110, 112. Strips 84, 86 areconstructed and secured in place in the same manner as strips 110, 112shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the fold region in an embodiment ofthe invention; in this embodiment, reinforcement 130 has been providedto the inside of the fold, strengthening the loops 15 and furthersecuring pintle 60. Reinforcement 130 is dimensioned to extend beyondthe rearmost part of the apertures formed by loops 150, indicated byline A. At its free ends, reinforcement 130 can be secured to the innersurfaces of layers 90, 92 by any suitable means, shown here as welds 96,98. Alternatively, as described above, it would be possible to constructthe reinforcement 130 from oriented multi-layer film which includes thelaser weldable material.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the fold region in a seam area of a textile 200in an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the seamingelements are provided as an integral part of the film, which isconstructed in the manner of WO 2011/069259. At fold region 5, alignedapertures 10 are provided spaced apart equally by land areas whichbecome loops 15. After textile 200 is folded along fold line 5, and acorresponding fold line 5 at the opposing end of the textile, the twoprepared folded ends can be brought together, the loops 15 of the twoends interdigitated, to form a channel, and thereafter secured bysuitable means such as pintle 60 (see FIG. 7).

1. A seaming element for an industrial textile having first and secondends, the seaming element comprising a body having a first end region, asecond end region and an intermediate fold region, opposing first andsecond lateral edges, an outer first surface and an inner secondsurface, wherein (i) each end region comprises a plurality of slitsextending from the outer surface through to the inner surface whereinadjacent pairs of the slits define land areas therebetween and selectedones of the land areas comprise protrusions extending from at least oneof the outer surface and the inner surface to form a profile to therespective surface; (ii) the intermediate fold region comprises a foldline extending between the first and second lateral edges, and aplurality of apertures mutually aligned along the fold line to define aplurality of land areas therebetween such that when the body is foldedalong the fold line, the land areas form a plurality of loops defining achannel; (iii) the seaming element is constructed and arranged to besecured at each of the first and second end regions directly to thefirst end of the industrial textile; and (iv) selected ones of theplurality of loops are alignable and interdigitatable with correspondingloops on a compatible seaming element provided to the second end of theindustrial textile, to define a single aligned channel to receive asecuring means.
 2. A seaming element according to claim 1, wherein theseaming element is constructed of a polymeric film.
 3. A seaming elementaccording to claim 2, wherein the polymeric film is constructed ofmaterial selected from at least one of polyethylene terephthalate,polyphenylene sulphide, multi-layer laser weld enabled film, andhydrolysis stabilized polymer film.
 4. A seaming element according toclaim 1, wherein the slits are constructed and arranged to providealigned rows of protrusions, wherein the protrusions of each row areoffset from the protrusions of adjacent rows.
 5. A seaming elementaccording to claim 1, wherein the slits are constructed and arranged toprovide rows of protrusions in a mutually parallel alignment.
 6. Aseaming element according to claim 1, wherein the apertures have aconfiguration selected from substantially rectangular and substantiallyelliptical.
 7. A seaming element according to claim 1, wherein theseaming element is constructed and arranged to be secured to theindustrial textile by a means selected from bonding and mechanicalmeans.
 8. A seaming element according to claim 7, wherein at least oneof the end regions of the seaming element comprises a bonding stripsecurable to the industrial textile.
 9. A seaming element according toclaim 1, wherein the industrial textile comprises two outer layers andan interior third layer and the seaming element is constructed andarranged to be secured to the third layer by a means selected frombonding and mechanical means.
 10. A seaming element according to claim1, wherein the securing means is a pintle.
 11. A seaming elementaccording to claim 1, further comprising a reinforcement means providedto the inner surface at the fold region.
 12. A seaming element accordingto claim 1, wherein protrusions on the inner surface of the first endregion are selectively secured to the inner surface of the second endregion, and protrusions on the inner surface of the second end regionare selectively secured to the inner surface of the first end region.13. An industrial textile for conveying in an industrial process, havinga pair of seamable edges, wherein at least one of the seamable edgescomprises a seaming element according to claim
 1. 14. An industrialtextile according to claim 13, wherein the industrial textile isconstructed of a polymeric film.
 15. An industrial textile according toclaim 14, having a textile body comprising at least one layer having anupper surface and a lower surface; and a plurality of textile body slitsextending from the upper surface through to the lower surface whereinadjacent pairs of the textile body slits define land areas therebetween,and selected ones of the land areas comprise protrusions extending fromat least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the layer toform a profile to the respective surface.
 16. An industrial textileaccording to claim 15, wherein the textile body slits are constructedand arranged to provide aligned rows of mutually parallel protrusions,wherein the protrusions of each row are offset from the protrusions ofadjacent rows.
 17. (canceled)
 18. An industrial textile according toclaim 16, comprising at least two layers, and wherein: (i) the secondend region comprises an extended region extending beyond the first endregion in a direction measured from the fold line; (ii) selected ones ofprotrusions on the inner surface of the first end region are secured tothe inner surface of the second end region, and selected ones ofprotrusions on the inner surface of the second end region are secured tothe inner surface of the first end region; and (iii) selected ones ofprotrusions on the inner surface of the extended region of the secondend region are secured to an inner surface of a first layer of thetextile, and protrusions on the inner surface of the first layer of thetextile are selectively secured to the inner surface of the extendedregion of the second end region.
 19. An industrial textile according toclaim 13, wherein the at least one seaming element is integrallyconstructed with the textile body.
 20. A method of making a seam for anindustrial textile, the industrial textile having a pair of seamableedges, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first seamingelement according to claim 1 to the first of the pair of seamable edges;(b) providing a second seaming element to the second of the pair ofseamable edges, the second seaming element comprising a plurality ofloops constructed and arranged to be alignable and interdigitatable withthe plurality of loops of the first seaming element; (c) bringing freeedges of the first and second seaming elements together, interdigitatingthe plurality of loops of the first seaming element with the pluralityof loops of the second seaming element to define a channel; and (d)providing a securing means to the channel to secure the seam.
 21. Amethod according to claim 20, wherein the industrial textile comprisesat least two layers, the method further comprising selectively securingprotrusions on at least one surface selected from the inner surface ofthe first end region, the inner surface of the second end region and theinner surface of at least one layer of the textile to an opposing one ofthe at least one surface.